Furstenau vs. Naperville

Unless there are some feverish things going on behind the scenes, I think it's a disgrace that Dick Furstenau is still on the City Council. Imagine suing the city and then being responsible for its fiscal decisions. It smells more like Daley's Chicago than Pradel's Naperville. Are we all suddenly Democrats? Disgusting.

Dick Furstenau did nothing wrong. Touching a policeman should not be a crime just as a policeman touching a citizen is not a crime. Especially when the policeman did not feel threatened and no threat was implied.

Charging Furstenau was ridiculous and it is what escalated this situation. The Police Chief could have had a chat with Furstenau and he could have asked him not to touch sacred police officers.
I am sure Furstenau would have obeyed. So blame the police for escalating the situation. Not Furstenau!!!

I have been handcuffed by police for failing emission tests or not paying a toll on time. Offered to turn myself in voluntarily but no, the Naperville Police insisted on handcuffing me and imprisoning me for 4 hours and would not even allow me to take my dog home first. The police know who I am and knew I am impose no threat to them. So why the handcuffs and the prison cell. It just seems like they have big egos that are impairing their judgment to do their work properly.

If a police officer failed an emission test, would fellow police officers handcuff and imprison him. Not in a million years!!! I had made 3 attempts and the car failed as it was too old to pass. I finally junked the car. But what crime was committed to justify handcuffs and a prison cell. What a waste of taxpayer money and police effort??? No wonder so many robberies are taking place in Naperville. The police do not have their efforts in the right place.

Yes, and my dog experiened much anxiety by being separated from me in such a ruthless manner. The police should have allowed me to take my dog home and turn myself in voluntarily. I am sure I am not going to flee the country over some emission or toll problem. Plus the police knew where I lived in Naperville and they could easily come get me if I did not turn myself in as promised.

I hope and pray Mr. Furstenau's lawsuit bring positive change to our police department. Mayor Pradel when a police officer never acted as some of our policeman are currently behaving. He was a model policeman. I wish we could get a few to follow in his footsteps.

Thank You,
Blake

No one was expressing their concern over Mr. Furstenau's ability to make fair and unbiased decisions for the city of Naperville during the 18 month period in which he was being falsely charged by the NPD while the cops lied their way through the entire investigation. So why are all the concerns surfacing now that he is persuing justice for 3 dirty cops making up a story and charging him with it. Very hypocritical turn a blind eye then only to raise questions about his ability now, if you ask me.

Right, because clearly this type of behavior is always limited to Democrats. *rolls eyes*

Mr. Furstenau has been a breath of fresh air on our city council and a great representative of the residents of Naperville. He is straightforward, honest and trustworthy. His lawsuit is obviously NOT self-serving with the negative press and other potential backlash he has and will need to endure for attempting to reimburse those who have been financially supportive. My heart goes out to him and his family.

Naperville cops may be on a power trip, but Furstenau went too far with the lawsuit. In other words, both sides are wrong.

I do not think Mr. Furstenau went to far with the lawsuit. Until the Police Dept. is hit with a 10 million dollar suit that they lose and taxpayers have to pay with increased real estate taxes on their homes, the cops will continue their arrogant power trip while patrolling the streets. Something has to break their behavior. Sooner better than later before their egos ballon completely out of control.

If we do not expose them, we will have a Bolingbrook Police Dept. where they covered for one of their own for 29.95 years. Can u imagine that not one Bolingbrook policeman knew anything about Drew's outrageous behavior??? They even helped arrest his ex-wives, fiances, girl friends and mistresses for such things as bald tires and to many traffic tickets..lol!!

If Naperville is not stopped, we will have a Bolingbrook. Does anyone know where the Bolingbrook Police Chief came from???...Yes, Naperville!!!

I'm sorry to see the lawsuit because it will, unfortunately, diminsh Mr. Furstenau's reputation and likely his effectiveness on council. All of which is unfortunate as he is one of very few council members that looks out for the taxpayers and tries to hold the line on spending. We need more like him, not fewer.

I wasn't present at the altercation, but have no doubt that the charges were politically motivated. No one can "assault" and officer and not be charged for two weeks -- not here, not anywhere. A real assault would have been met with force and handcuffs.

I hate to have to pay for the city's mistake, but it was the city's mistake

I always voted for him in the past, but now, Never again.

This is not in the taxpayer's best interest and sometimes you have to toss pride aside. I expect my elected representatives to be mature enough to do that or step out of the way as an elective representative when they can not.

How is suing the city and 3 cops for lying about what took place and then trying to convict him of a felony and putting him in jail for 15 years going to far? everyone says he only "touched" the police officer, do you not recall that their first story was that he struck him so hard it "stunned him" and that they initial tried to file for felony aggrevated assault on an officer? That would have put him in jail for 15 years. Does that seem resonable if all he did in the end was touch him? The cops lied and tried to put an innocent man in jail for a long time. How is filing a suit against the city going to far. they are getting what they deserve. Don't blame mr. fustenau, blame the cops.

Mike Skarr is being awfully selective in his "conflict of interest" accusations. What about the "conflict of interest" in the teachers' union $33,000 contribution to get their union-friendly school board candidates elected in 2007? Perhaps Mr. Skarr chooses to ignore this obvious conflict of interest because District 203 employs a teacher who shares the same last name? Furthermore, Mr. Skarr and the Chambers other inconsistencies are clearly illustrated in their positions on taxes. They supported the last two school district tax referendums. It's OK to burden the taxpayer. But when Gov Blago proposed a Gross Receipts Tax on businesses, the Chamber went apoplectic. It's not OK to burden Chamber members. The Chamber is loosing its credibility with its situational morality.

We need more people like Dick who look out for the people and not big business. Too many of our local school board, council, county, park, and county officials are corrupt and looking for the next kickback. Most of the time you can trust Dick Furstenau to tell it like it is. The only significant blemish on his record was his vote in the dark of the night for the taxpayer bailout of the ugly and ridiculous carillon (i.e., taxpayer tower).

I support Dick Furstenau and he certaily can govern more effectively than the rest of them.

I am sure happy that I moved out of Nville.......

Since when does the Chamber of Commerce overturn an election.....some people voted for Dick Furstenau and that is that or maybe the Chamber wants the Supreme Court to overturn the election. Anyway why is the city hiring outside council..........they have plenty of attorneys on the city payroll. Let's act like the great city we are instead of acting like little childrem. Voter

Hard to know exactly what happened, but a person doesn't check his rights at the door when he is elected. If his rights were violated, he has as much reason to sue as anyone. And if they weren't, he's paying his own attorney so it is out of his pocket.

It should be interesting to see how this all pans out, but it is rather odd that the chamber is worried about conflicts when there are so many others that are ignored.

I think Dick Furstenau is the most honest and reliable councilman ever elected in this city. I have voted for him because I know he will represent my interests in Naperville and make sure our tax dollars are well spent. His arrest was a farce and I'm glad he is holding the police dept. accountable. "What goes around comes around", boys in blue. You ought to be ashamed of yourselves. Keep up the good work Mr. Furstenau!

I hope Dick Stays ON the Council......and the point above is a Good one.... No One Objected to Furstenau being under suspicion and in court about the NPD Fiasco.....which I am sure Cost Dick Thousands of Dollars in legal fee's. Maybe the SUN should hold an electronic Vote where people can cast a ballot - ?

1. Pay Dick & be done with the matter and let's move on.
2. Waste thousands & thousands of dollars of Tax Payers money on a
long drawn out law suit.
3. Offer Furstenau 50,000 to settle out of court & hush up the matter.

4. Refund only legal fees used to fight the charge itself.

Anyone posting on this issue maybe advised to NOV 1 blog question.Like Blake and Naperman ,I was involved in a very disturbing and illegal incident with several members of NPD peace officers.After nearly a year of dealing with that department,I was amazed and overwelhmed at the level of unprofessionalism .Look how many citizens have written the Sun to cite personal experinces with city police. note the young woman who's mother mustered the courage to write the story of her encounter w/ NPD after a traffic accident,note the cruel treatment of the victim in the NBA coffee pitch story,again NPD damaged the victim by refusing to file a report for days.This fact was cited by lead juror as a REASON for aquittal.The questions regarding police overtime,allocation of resources and lying by officers,doubledipping,patronage, these questions demand answers. Will you be part of the solution? The citizens of Illinois must come together and expose CRIMINAL actions of ALL police and elected officials,indeed we will have another Bolingbrook-type PD.The federal Department of Justice is acutely aware of the criminal elements in many local,county,parks and state policing agencies.They have brought in a THIRD public corruption unit to address the issue.We have never had such active federal committment. Many people told me Gov. Ryan could never be brought to justice.It took 13 years after the death of tha Milwaukee 6,for justice to be served.Criminal actions by sworn personnel must be stopped and those proven guilty ,in a court of jurisdiction should face justice.The idea it's OK for cops to commit crimes because that how it's always been needs to change.Thanks to Sun for raising the issue. mr Q